Influence of Removing Both Phlegm and Blood Stasis on Atherosclerotic Plaques in Rats and Potential Mechanism

Objective:To observe the influence of Removing Both Phlegm and Blood stasis on atherosclerotic plaques in rats and the potential mechanism.Methods:To randomly divide 85 Wistar rats into 5 groups:the normal group (n=20,fed with basic diet for 12 weeks),the model group (n=20),rosiglitazone group (n=15),low-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis group (n=15) and high-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis group (n=15).After 6 weeks,5 rats from the normal group and 5 rats from the model group were sacrificed.Atherosclerosis plaque was examined in aorta by optical microscope with Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining,which was the successful index of model establishment.The rest four groups were intraperitoneal injected with single dose of vitamin D3 (400000IU/kg) and were fed with high fat diet for 12 weeks.From the 7th week on,groups were intragastric administrated with normal saline [10mL/(kg·d)],rosiglitazone (3mg/kg),low-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis liquid extract (0.8g/mL),high-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis liquid extract (1.6g/mL) for the next 6 weeks.The aorta histological changes was examined with HE staining and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PARγ) protein expression was observed by immunohistochemical method.The level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting insulin (FINS) were detected,and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated accordingly.Results:Injecting single dose of vitamin D3 400000IU/kg with loading of high fat diet for 6 weeks,atherosclerosis model in rats was established with the typital plaque.After 6 weeks intragastric administration,compared with the model group rats,rosiglitazone,low-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis liquid extract and high-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis liquid extract could significantly reduce the level of FPG,FINS,HOMA-IR (P0.05 or P0.01),and decrease the average optical density of PPARγ protein expression (P0.05 or P0.01),which has no difference with the control group (P0.05).The aortic atherosclerotic lesion has been attenuated and regressed obviously.Among the treatment groups,the high-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis group has better effect than the low-dose recipe of removing both phlegm and blood stasis group and has no difference with the rosiglitazone group.Conclusion:Removing both phlegm and blood stasis has been showned antiatherosclerotic effects,which likely result from its activating PPARγ to improve insulin resistance.